Actors prevail in one-person 'Bust' and 'Chipped' at Terrific New Theatre

For those legions who find it difficult to simply stand up in front of an audience and say hello, much less give a coherent speech, Saxon Murrell and Jennifer Price will have you scratching your heads and wondering, “How in the world do they do that?”

That is a one-person show, 45 minutes alone on a stage keeping an audience engaged without the help of a larger cast. It’s not an easy task, but they are both superb in an evening at Terrific New Theatre that includes “A Chip in the Sugar,” starring Murrell, and “Bust,” starring Price.

Alan Bennett’s “A Chip in the Sugar” and Lauren Weedman’s “Bust” couldn’t be more different, although they loosely share a prison theme. “Bust” chronicles Weedman’s real-life experience volunteering in the Los Angeles County jail system; “Chip” is the fictional monologue of a British man, trapped in his own prison involving his mother and mental illness.

WHAT: "A Chip in the Sugar" and "Bust"

WHERE: Terrific New Theatre, 2821 Second Ave. South, Birmingham

WHEN: Through April 9

TICKETS: $20; 328-0868

BOTTOM LINE Four out of five stars

What else do they share? Two of Birmingham’s best actors at the top of their games.

First up is Murrell, ever-so-British as he weaves a funny and tragic tale. He’s a man whose best friend is his elderly mother, who has reconnected with a past love, and he finds himself being shut out of his mother’s life.

One of Murrell’s specialties is bringing somewhat mousy characters to vivid life, and he does that here. Graham is a complex man, but he and director Carl Stewart make him easily accessible.

While Murrell’s monologue is largely one person talking, Price is charged with playing a number of characters — male, female, white, Hispanic — who come in and out of Weedman’s life.

It’s a fun thing to watch, and Stewart’s inventive staging — including D. Connor McVey’s ambitious set — even allows her to carry on conversations with herself at times.

Keeping these characters straight, with distinct enough portrayals that the audience doesn’t get confused, is a tough job, but Price is more than up to it. We can only hope that Lauren Weedman is as good at playing Lauren Weedman as Price is.

Both pieces could use more satisfying endings. “Bust,” in particular, just came to a screeching halt on opening night.

But that’s a small price to pay to see two wonderful actors plying their trade, even if they’re doing it alone.